Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Car Accident?
If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be wondering if it is worth hiring a lawyer. Maybe you’ve reached out to the insurance of the at-fault driver and found them to be less than helpful. Perhaps you’re concerned that your injuries may negatively impact your ability to work and provide for your family. Maybe you are just stressed out and want to know what your options are.
In nearly all car accidents resulting in injury or significant material damage, it is worth getting a lawyer to help with your car accident claim. This is especially true if your car accident resulted in serious and/or debilitating bodily injury.
Keep in mind that hiring a lawyer does not mean going to court. In fact, the majority of personal injury cases settle without going to trial. A lawyer can help you with all aspects of your claim and so you are not left footing the bill for someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior.
Why You Should Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident
While it is possible to settle a car accident claim without representation, a car accident lawyer can help streamline the process and maximize your financial compensation while also protecting your rights as an injured person. They can also help to take on some of the stress that comes from dealing with the at-fault driver’s insurer so you focus on more important things like getting better.
Among the ways a car accident lawyer can help you with your claim are:
Offering Sound Legal Advice – Laws surrounding liability and traffic codes are complex. They can also vary from state to state. A car accident lawyer will be familiar with the laws and regulations of the state they practice in and can advise you on the issues that may affect your case. They can also help you avoid potential pitfalls that may negatively impact your claim.
Keeping Up with Deadlines – You only have a set amount of time to make a claim and recover compensation. For example, your car accident may be subject to a statute of limitations which limits the time for filing a claim or case in your state. Lawyers are familiar with the deadlines that may affect your claim, so your case is always moving forward.
Gathering Documentation – One of the first things a car accident lawyer will do is gather all available information that may pertain to your crash and your case. From police reports to witness statements to medical records, a lawyer’s focus is to demonstrate the viability and value of your case with evidence. Detailed records can make or break a case, and a lawyer can make all the documents for your case are in order.
Calculating Your Damages – Plaintiffs can recover a variety of damages following a car accident. In addition to medical expenses and damage to your vehicle, car accident lawsuits often seek lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and additional economic and non-economic damages you were otherwise unaware of. A lawyer can ensure all your costs and damages are included in your claim and that any settlement will account for those damages.
Dealing with the Insurance Companies – Nobody likes dealing with insurance companies, especially when that company is not their own. It is also important to remember that the insurer of the at-fault driver does not what to pay you what your case is worth. The job of the adjuster is to limit the financial liability of their employer and pay you as little as possible. A lawyer will protect your best interest and handle negotiations to help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Taking Your Claim to Trial – What if the at-fault driver’s insurance decides not to offer a fair settlement? What if they decide it is cheaper to take you to court than to pay you fair compensation? Do you take a low-ball offer or fight?
Though the chances of your case going to trial are low, having a car accident lawyer handling your claim means your case has been getting prepared for trial since day one. Having a lawyer also means you are less likely to lose your case based on technicalities or procedural errors. A lawyer can also protect you from defense and cross-examination tactics.
What Kind of Compensation Can My Lawyer Help Me Secure?
While every case is different, your car accident lawyer may help you receive compensation for:
- Medical costs
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Cost of physical therapy
These are only a few of the damages you can recover in a car accident lawsuit. To learn about the damages that apply to your car accident case, call Thomas J. Henry Law to speak with a car accident attorney near you.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call Thomas J. Henry Law for a FREE case consultation. We will review your claim confidentially and with no obligation. Should you choose to hire our law firm following that consultation, we will take immediate action on your case and help you along your path to financial and physical recovery.
Thomas J. Henry Law Offices in TX:
- Speak to an Austin car accident lawyer:
- Phone Number: (512) 520-0221 (attorneys available 24/7, nights and weekends)
- Address:4401 West Gate Blvd Suite 200, Austin, TX 78745 (walk-in Monday through Friday)
- Speak to a Corpus Christi car accident lawyer:
- Phone number: 361-254-7873 (attorneys available 24/7 to assist you)
- Address: 521 Starr Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401 (walk-in Monday through Friday)
- Speak to a San Antonio car accident lawyer:
- Phone number: 210-941-2191 (attorneys available 24/7 to assist you)
- Address: 5710 W Hausman Rd, Suite 108, San Antonio, TX 78249 (walk-in Monday through Friday)
